Many a Time

Posted on October 7, 2020 by

29 Comments

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

And lo, many a time death has called my name
But I’ve run from her haunting mournful call
Howling on raw wind, from the shallow grave
Wailing in harsh winter’s stagnant pall

Her face in shadows, wearing a gossamer caul
Begging to caress with bony white fingers
While fierce black hellhounds strain to maul
As a cloying odor of decay lingers

Carrying the stench of decomposed demise
Someday Hel will return, chortling with glee
No longer wearing pale death’s disguise
But rather, my own face peering at me.

©2020 Linda Lee Lyberg

dVerse Poets Pub: Poetics You Want it Darker

Linda Lee Lyberg is a wife, mother, artist, published poet and author. She resides in Mesa, AZ with her husband Pete (aka The Big Viking) of 24 years, and her dog, Ricky Bobby. Linda writes various forms of poetry, as well as short stories. You can read more of her works at: charmedchaos.com
and purchase anthologies containing her work here: Amazon Author Page

Category: PoetryTags: , , ,

29 Comments on “Many a Time”

  1. Death as she, and then wearing my own face – a Poe-like piece – chilling…I was going to finish this but my black cat has come and sat on the keyboard! – she knows stuff, so I’d better stop by saying well done.

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  2. Wow, this is very mesmerizing and it’s very poignant near the end. It shows a deep reflection about our own fears with death, touching even upon near death experiences. I think the more we fear the inevitable, the more we let it dictate our lives and thoughts. It becomes us as it did with the narrator in this ballad.

    As well, I always like what stares back at us to be our truest selves. There’s honesty to that. It’s chilling and haunting how you entwined this imagery to create such an impact. Well-written and well done.

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  4. Whoa Linda, this chilled me to my bones. I have seen death’s face leering at me from the shadows on two three very specific, snd still frightening occasions. We as human beings are actually confronted by death every day. It’s just that sometimes that confrontation comes to a very sharp point. Excellent statement of darkness here. I Hope you are feeling better as I understand you had a rough patch recently. Please excuse some of the irregularities in my typing here as I am having to employ the Siri function on my iPad to translate speaking to typing. The arthritis in my fingers makes typing extremely difficult now. But we all must keep going forging ahead. Take care Linda.

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  6. Darkly delicious, Linda.
    I may have to cover my mirrors and/or anesthetize myself for the next few days. (I’m voting for anesthesia)

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  10. Whoa! This is enough to make one refuse to die! I somehow had it pictured more peaceful and compassionate!!

    Liked by 1 person

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